Gibson's Bookstore in Concord makes the shortlist for the Publishers Weekly Bookstore of the Year

January 28. 2018 12:46AM

Max D'Ovidio-Alvey of Bow was zooming around Gibson's Bookstore in Concord with a toy shopping cart and toy fruits and vegetables in January of 2016 while visiting there with his mother and visiting friends. (Allegra Boverman/Union Leader file photo)

CONCORD - Gibson's Bookstore has made the shortlist for Publishers Weekly's 2018 Bookstore of the Year.

The award honors outstanding contributors to the U.S. bookselling industry among hundreds of eligible stores.

The list was announced at the annual bookselling conference hosted by the American Booksellers Association.

Publishers Weekly said the finalists "are representative of the diverse stores that have contributed to today's indie bookstore revival. Many have deep roots in a specific region, but they have also had a big impact on the book industry well beyond those borders."

The shortlist includes two of the country's oldest stores, which date back more than one hundred years, as well as one of a new generation of bookstores, now in its fifth year.

The awards will be presented at BookExpo in New York City in May.

Gibson's Bookstore was founded in 1898, and has served the readers of central New Hampshire from various locations in Concord under five sets of owners. Gibson's moved to its current and largest location in 2013, in the Love Building project on South Main Street completed by developer Steve Duprey.

Michael Herrmann has owned the store since 1994. He said making the list, "is a tribute to our amazing team of booksellers and to the readers of our community, all of whom have helped us build and sustain and grow the bookstore of my dreams."

Joining Gibson's as finalists are Astoria Bookshop (Queens, N.Y.) Boulder Bookstore (Boulder, Colo.) Source Booksellers (Detroit, Mich.) and University Book Store (Seattle, Wash.)